The state senate initially passed a 17.9 billion dollar budget on Thursday after debating late into the evening. The bill is paired with a controversial proposal that would require a quasi-governmental agency to shift its surplus money to the state to offset cuts to higher education. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
![RTD Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald Sr. speaking at a press conference](https://www.cpr.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2022/11/221110-DENVER-SAFETY-PRESS-CONFERENCE-COLORADO-CONVENTION-CENTER-DOWNTOWN-CBD-KEVINJBEATY-31.jpg)